182 replies to this topic

[BigG]

I have talked this morning with the HSE regarding the possibility of an amateur club for firework builder. They where very helpful and kind and will send me relevant information regarding the subject. Yes, I gave them my home address. They are real people that distinguish between B**mbs and firework and are willing to explain the required regulation.

A manufacturing license in this country cost about 600?, requires a minimal facility for storage and separate building for actual construction, and an area to do it on. There are also other costs such as insurance, council permit and so on ? but if 50 of us want to create such a club, I see it within our financial capabilities to start organising and becoming legal. The license is indefinite as long as there is no change in circumstances.

Even better if one of the member lives in a farm and does not mind allocating some area for the purpose.

Any comments?

BigG

[phildunford]

Well, I'm gob-smacked bigg!

Would have thought they would say 'go away' in no uncertain terms...

I think it's a great idea, main problem I think would be to find somewhere where enough people could get to on a regular basis without travelling too far.

Guess we need a benefactor with the land, then maybe 10 people paying ?100 to kick it off.

Would certainly be up for it if it was within travelling distance.

[BigG]

Well, I was not that surprised. I called Kimbolton and the BPA and had a chat with them about it, and they gave me number and a contact name inside the HSE. They also said that the HSE has no reason to treat an individual any different then a company – after all, he/she approaches the HSE to do things right.

I also talked with two fireworks display companies, which has proper magazines in my area. They suggested that once set - the costs are not as high as some might think.

As for the location – this also crossed my mind – and there is no simple answer. First, I don’t see such club opens every day using volunteers. Most people here have full time jobs. Second, the spread is too wide. But you got to start somewhere. I’m sure that most people that will belong to such a club would not mind just doing construction a few concentrated times a year if they don’t have to watch their back all the time. Also, materials are much easier to obtain when you have proper licenses.

We got to start somewhere. Just like in power rocketry – one club opened and then within a few years clubs covered other areas of the country.

BigG

P.S, I don’t think 1000? will cover it the first year. I think more in the region of 2500?-5000? to start with – plus members are charged for the chemicals they want – although buying bulk should reduce the price dramatically.

[RegimentalPyro]

Great initiative. I'm up for that. Count me in.

Just the thought of 20 communal ball mills all going at once leaves me somewhat breathless.

Having HSE endorsement [ie government approval!] is the somewhat essential icing on the cake

[Stuart]

Where does everybody live in the UK? Just to get an idea to the spread of people.


Stuart

Edited by Stuart, 19 September 2003 - 04:05 PM.

[zanes]

i live in gloucestershire- 12 miles from stroud

btw: I live in the country, near a farm.

[phildunford]

Maybe honcho could use his php skills to map out the location of the members...

(As long as people have told the truth on their profiles)

PS I'm in S London - No farms to speak of!

Edited by phildunford, 19 September 2003 - 05:32 PM.

[Richard H]

I'm up in West Yorkshire, Plenty of space around these parts.

BigG, I think your initiative is most excellent. Establishing the foundations for legal amateur pyro in the UK is something that needs doing. Let's keep the ball rolling and throw a few idea's around.

My opinion is this:

1) Ideally needs to be relatively centralised location
2) Need a good amount of space to fire finished items

My only concern is the matter of insurance. This alone is expensive.

Thus success comes in numbers and joining forces. We have many people on the forum who are seriously into pyro. A combined pool of funding might provide the amateur scene with a viable way to move forward and establish a legal factory.

[Gor]

I live near Zanes, but I'm not sure he would want to be in a club with me after I was so rude to him!

[hewettn]

Im near Plymouth on the edge of dartmoor. Miles away.

Nigel

[RegimentalPyro]

In Stafford, [about halfway between Birmingham and Manchester].

[zanes]

I live near Zanes, but I'm not sure he would want to be in a club with me after I was so rude to him!

Gor, I still like you and bear no grudge against you, I understand now the EXACT details of 'that' event

[Gor]

Cheers, lifes too short to hold a grudge for more than 5 minutes anyway.

[BigG]

I'm up in West Yorkshire, Plenty of space around these parts.

BigG, I think your initiative is most excellent. Establishing the foundations for legal amateur pyro in the UK is something that needs doing. Let's keep the ball rolling and throw a few idea's around.

My opinion is this:

1) Ideally needs to be relatively centralised location
2) Need a good amount of space to fire finished items

My only concern is the matter of insurance. This alone is expensive.

Thus success comes in numbers and joining forces. We have many people on the forum who are seriously into pyro. A combined pool of funding might provide the amateur scene with a viable way to move forward and establish a legal factory.

How expensive is insurance? Let?s assume that we are not firing public display, but only in our own grounds? What companies do such insurance?

Another thing we can consider is approaching existing pyro display companies to give us some sponsorship. This will not be finances help, but allowing us to use their own storage for our chemicals and finished products (assuming they have some spare space). This means we will expend their grounds to include the production workshop on our own expense but we will save on a magazine (which might be an expensive component ? I don?t need how big we need to have it?.)

In return we will give them mention at all of our events and our web site, including maybe sharing rent of the land (if they don?t own the site) or something similar to that.

Maybe Adam can give more helpful advise in that area.

BigG

[Gor]

Exactly what is a magazine?

As I understand it we need two separate buildings, one for manufacture and one for storage. What are the specifications for each?

Let us assume that we do get together, what is a safe way for us to work. Would you share a shed with 10 other people all making pyro? Would we all work on projects together, or do our own thing? If doing our own thing what is a safe distance between us?

Where do we store raw materials, in the factory or the magazine, or another location? Where do we mill materials?

Just getting a feel for these questions will help us to understand whether we are looking for an old stone barn up on the moors or a garden shed with a couple of ammo boxes in the garage.

I'm all for this and don't see a real problem raising some finances if we are pulling in the right direction.